Precision 185 Buyer's Guide
The Precision 185 is an 18-foot Jim Taylor daysailer built by Precision Boat Works, offered on the used market in two forms: a light crew-ballasted centerboarder set up for trailering, and a heavier fixed-lead-keel version (the 185K) better suited to deeper, less sheltered water. With no qualitative prevalence or regional data available for this model, the notes below draw on the build specification and period reviews to tell a shopper what the boat is, what to look for, and how the two versions differ.
Layouts on the Used Market
Both versions share the same essential plan: a no-cuddy daysailer with an especially large cockpit and no belowdecks cabin. The centerboard model draws 6 inches with the board up and 4 feet 10 inches down, displacing about 590 pounds, and trails easily. The fixed-keel version sits at 3 feet 6 inches draft, about 880 pounds displacement with roughly 375 pounds of ballast, and carries four stainless steel lifting eyes for hoisting. Each has a 9-foot 9-inch self-bailing cockpit with 8-foot 2-inch ergonomic seats, a secure spot for a portable ice chest, under-deck storage, and a large forepeak locker behind a watertight door. The transom swim platform is standard and is a genuine aid for boarding and recovery.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Factory equipment concentrated on simple, durable sailing hardware rather than creature comforts. The meaningful buyer-consequence items are the Harken ball bearing blocks, jib furling gear, and 4-to-1 boom vang that make short-handed sail handling easy; the deck-stepped anodized mast with hinged stainless steel step; and the kick-up rudder with a pressure-release Clamcleat line. The ballasted fiberglass NACA centerboard with its 3-to-1 raising tackle and sealed trunk is the defining mechanism to understand. Navigation and comfort were left to the owner, so any electronics or canvas beyond the standard furling jib are additions.
What to Inspect
The centerboard is the heart of the trailer version and deserves close attention: it relies on steel ballast to hold it down and should pivot up automatically in an accidental grounding anchor. Confirm the 3-to-1 tackle and sealed trunk mainsheet block operate smoothly. On the rudder, check that the down-hold line still leads to the pressure-release Clamcleat beneath the tiller and that the kick-up action is free. Inspection ports should give clear access to the rudder gudgeons and the forward storage under the mast; the deck-stepped mast bears on a substantial under-deck fiberglass box-beam, so look for compression or water staining there. Verify the vinyl-ester outer skin and hand-laminated hull joint with plastic rub rail are intact, and that foam coring in deck panels shows no softness.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
For a shopper, the short list is:
- Decide centerboard (trailerable, crew-ballasted) vs. fixed keel (deeper water, 3'6" draft)
- Test the centerboard pivot and rudder kick-up release
- Check deck coring and the mast-step box-beam for water
- Confirm Harken hardware and furling gear are complete
- Use the swim platform and large cockpit as family-friendly assets, not flaws
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Precision 185. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $5,495 | — |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $3,200 | -41.8% |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $7,500 | +134.4% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $7,100 | -5.3% |
Where they're listed
Precision 185 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 3.
Country view
3 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $7,100 | 3 | 1 | 100.0% |